www.alkoholpolitik.ch

e.g.: The City of Tampere (Finland) – Tampere campaigns against supplying alcohol to minors
The City of Tampere has launched a campaign to make an appeal to its inhabitants in order to end the supply of alcohol to minors. All retail shops in Tampere selling alcoholic beverages will feature posters, cards and shopping basket advertising on the topic.
Irish Independent (Ireland) – Alcohol to blame for rise in liver problems
GROWING numbers of people are developing liver disease in their 20s and 30s because of heavy boozing, according to new research. etc. Source: Alcohol Reports, 5/09/11)

School prevention programs aimed at curbing alcohol misuse in children are somewhat helpful, enough so to deserve consideration for widespread use, according to a large, international systematic review.
The most significant program effects were reductions in episodes of drunkenness and binge drinking, reviewers found.
„School-based prevention programs that take a social skills-oriented approach or that focus on classroom behavior management can work to reduce alcohol problems in young people,“ said David Foxcroft, lead review author. „However, there is good evidence that these sorts of approaches are not always effective.“ … (Source: Medical News Today, 5/11/11)

Mark Hunter, chief executive of Britain’s largest brewer Molson Corrs, has suggested an ‚alcohol minister‘ should be considered to lead on a more cohesive alcohol strategy, including further action on price and taxation. Writing in the Morning Advertiser, Hunter criticised elements of current alcohol policy as dis-jointed, citing curbs on the promotion of lower strength products. Current advertising codes mean that brand owners cannot promote reduced strength drinks, which Hunter argues undermines policy to promote these through reduced taxation.
Hunter said he was „baffled“ by „policy decisions, such as the 7.2% duty rise on beer, that seem entirely disconnected from the alcohol responsibility and economic growth strategies emerging from Government.“ He spoke out against a policy that will continue to see the beer and pub trade decline further, depsite its vital role in providing as much as one million jobs:…
„… the most dramatic change in UK drinking behaviour over the past 30 years has been the systematic decline of beer from a 70% share of alcohol to 40%, while higher strength drinks have prospered supported by one of the most lenient tax environments, relative to beer, in the world (spirits tax up circa 15% since 1995).“ (Source: Alcohol Policy UK, 5/09/11) Alcohol Reports, 5/9/11

Teenagers who drink alcohol spend more time on their computers for recreational use, including social networking and downloading and listening to music, compared with their peers who don’t drink.
Results of an anonymous survey of 264 teenagers were reported in the online edition of the journal Addictive Behaviors in a study authored by Weill Cornell Medical College public health researcher Dr. Jennifer Epstein.
„While the specific factors linking teenage drinking and computer use are not yet established, it seems likely that adolescents are experimenting with drinking and activities on the Internet. In turn, exposure to online material such as alcohol advertising or alcohol-using peers on social networking sites could reinforce teens‘ drinking,“ says Dr. Epstein, assistant professor of public health at Weill Cornell Medical College. „Children are being exposed to computers and the Internet at younger ages. For this reason it’s important that parents are actively involved in monitoring their children’s computer usage, as well as alcohol use. … (Source: Medical News Today, 5/10/11

Efforts by alcoholic beverage makers to boost sales by appealing to younger drinkers contribute to drinking patterns that are harmful to health, said experts at a panel discussion on “Alcohol, Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases and Public Health,” held this week at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
While alcoholic beverage makers say their ads are aimed only at consumers who are at or over the legal purchase age, research shows that viewing of alcohol ads by under-age youths has increased by nearly 70 percent over the past decade, said David Jernigan, associate professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 5/9/11)

The consumption of alcohol makes a significant contribution to alcohol related harm globally. In emerging markets and among younger groups increased consumption is apparent. Effective policy is not implemented as widely as is needed. A concerted effort in controlling alcohol related harm is greatly needed and will involve multiple partners, including academia, civil society organizations and government bodies. Global cooperation can play a significant role in supporting and complementing worldwide national and local actions. …
The Global Alcohol Policy Conference 2011 is jointly organized by government, intergovernmental and the NGO sector. The Thai Ministry of Public Health, the World Health Organization, the Global Alcohol Policy Alliance and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation are co hosts of the Global Alcohol Policy Conference 2011. … (Source: Alcohol Reports, 5/9/11)

An Oklahoma bill passed by the state’s House and Senate would lower the legal alcohol limit for boaters, matching the limit for motorists. Currently the legal blood alcohol limit for boaters is 0.10 percent. The bill would lower it to 0.08 percent, The Oklahoman reports.
The measure passed unanimously in both the House and Senate and now awaits the governor’s signature. …
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was the leading factor in 21% of boating deaths in 2007. (Source: Join Together, 5/9/11)

A proposed measure would require universal ID checks for anyone buying alcohol in Anchorage, AK liquor stores and bars. An earlier version of the bill included restaurants, but that provision has been dropped, according to The Anchorage Daily News.
The Anchorage Assembly will consider the measure Tuesday. An advisory vote in an April city election favored the bill 2-1. The ordinance is designed to curb underage drinking and to catch people who try to buy alcohol even though they have been court-ordered not to do so. … (Source: Join Together, 5/9/11)

SBB geben Fussball-Fans Rabatt, obwohl diese in Zügen Millionenschäden anrichten.
Für die treusten Kunden steigen die Abo-Preise, Fussballrowdys erhalten bis zu 60 Prozent Rabatt. Dies sei nötig, um die normalen Passagiere zu schützen, sagen die SBB.
Sie zahlen heute schon weniger als normale Passagiere und werden, wie SBB-Sprecher Reto Kormann sagt, in den Extrazügen auch künftig von Spezialtarifen profitieren. So kostet etwa die Fahrt von Zürich an den YB-Match in Bern und zurück mit Halbtax-Abo 22 Franken, im normalen Zug sind es 47 Franken. …
Die SBB privilegieren damit ausgerechnet jene Kunden, die ihnen die grössten Kosten verursachen. Verwüstete Züge mit herausgerissenen Sitzen und zerstörten Fenstern hinterlassen mittlerweile nach jeder Fussball-Saison eine ungedeckte Rechnung von drei Millionen Franken. Und gemäss SBB steigt die Schadenbilanz laufend an: «Gegenüber der Vergleichsperiode des Vorjahres haben wir in der Rückrunde 2011 markant mehr Ereignisse rund um die Fan-Transporte verzeichnet», sagt Kormann. … (Quelle: NZZ, 8.5.11) Kommentar: Dass in Deutschland auf solchen Risikostrecken zu den Spielen Alkoholverbot eingeführt wurde, scheinen die SBB nicht gehört zu haben.

„Genug vom Alkohol“
Die Erhebungen im Fall jenes Zehnjährigen, der in Gratwein bei Graz eine Flasche „Eristoff Black“ geleert hatte und mit mehr als zwei Promille ins Spital gebracht worden war, werden laut Polizei kommende Woche fortgesetzt. Die Antwort auf die Frage, woher er die Wodka-Mixtur hatte, wird über die Art der Anzeige entscheiden. Stefan geht es mittlerweile wieder gut. (Quelle: Google Alkohol News, 7.5.11) krone.at, 7.5.11